Short, Light, Free

Chapter 99: Mountain, Sea VIII: Kylin

The moment I exited his room, I rushed out of the zoo.

I put my left foot out of the entrance, and when my hands remained still, my right foot followed.

I was now standing by the main road.

Xiaoai had lifted my curse.

I wondered if it was time to return to the temple.

Three months had already passed and I’ve never been away from home for such a long time.

While the temple offered nothing in comparison to this place, my heart was yearning for the money-grubbing Master and kind Senior.

As I thought about it, I walked further and further.

Yet, shortly after, I turned around. I knew that nothing good would come out of going back.

Pu Lao might make a trip to the temple if he found me missing the next morning.

He might even destroy the temple out of anger.

I returned to my room and lied down on the bed, vexed.

The next morning, I felt someone pushing me. I opened my eyes and was greeted by a sheet of white.

Xiaoai.

Baize was standing beside her.

“Ah!” I hurriedly put on some clothes.

“It’s time to run, Brother Goudan. My dad will run with you this time and I’ll supervise. Mom’s orders,” she said, smiling.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

Baize kept quiet and Xiaoai continued, “I reported Dad to Mom yesterday, so I’ll be making sure that you two complete your run this morning!”

...

Baize looked very young and scholarly but his physical body was even weaker than the average human.

He was running in front of me.

Xiaoai was cycling not far away.

Revenge is sweet.

I followed slowly behind and gloated as he gasped for breath. I guessed that three months of training wasn’t useless after all.

We started at four and only finished the run at eight.

Upon completion, Baize sprawled haphazardly down beside the road, panting loudly.

I calmly stood at his side, as if I hadn’t just been through a half marathon.

Xiaoai stopped over and grinned. “You did well, Dad!”

Baize waved her away. “Go back home and do your self-study. I’ll go over in a bit. Don’t be lazy.”

I was smiling and whistling all the way back to my room.

I waited for a long time, but Baize didn’t come back. Instead, it was Xiaoai who entered my room.

“Hey. Where’s your father?” I asked.

“He was called away by the wind fox. He had me come over to check on you,” she responded.

“He’s not worried about you supervising me alone?”

“He is, that’s why he gave me this.” She pulled out the Waking the Dragon. “He said to hit you on your head whenever you misbehave.”

I silently cursed. I tried, “Aren’t you curious about where he’s headed to?”

“Where else could it be? Some animals must just have fallen sick,” she said.

A loud ring sounded from above.

There was only Pu Lao’s room on the floor above me.

I stuck my head out of the window to see the commotion above and Xiaoai followed behind.

All the windows on that floor were broken.

I looked at Xiaoai, who also had her head out, and asked, “Is this normal?”

She shook her head.

“Let’s go sneak a peak.”

I retrieved my bagua mirror and looked around for a long rod.

Xiaoai asked, “Do you want to know what’s happening upstairs?”

I nodded.

She stepped closer to me, grabbed my arm, and promptly lifted us up into the air.

“What the f*ck! You can fly?” I exclaimed, astonished.

“It’s not a big deal,” she murmured as she casually maneuvered us into a corner mid-air.

She waved her arm and I noticed that we’ve been covered by a white fog.

“What’s this?” I asked softly.

She whispered, “Don’t talk. This is a layer of shelter. I’m afraid of being seen by those below. We’ll be in trouble if that happens.”

In our position, we could clearly see what was happening on the upper floor.

The wind fox and Baize were standing behind Pu Lao while an enormous animal with a lion’s head, deer’s horns, tiger’s eyes, moose’s body, dragon’s scales, and a cow’s tail prowled on the ground.

Flames entered and exited his mouth as he breathed.

“Xiaoai, what kind of creature is that?”

“I’m not sure, but it looks like it’s not Pu Lao’s match,” she answered faintly.

I muttered, “I can’t hear them.”

“We’ll go closer.” We inched closer toward the building.

...

“He’s my boss and he’s your relative. Please, have Baize go over to treat him. Why aren’t you helping?” the lion roared.

“I’ve already told you that we can’t cure this illness,” Pu Lao responded.

“How would you know if you won’t even take a look?” the lion roared again.

Pu Lao waved his hand off-handedly. “Tell him, Baize. Stubborn fool.”

Baize explained calmly, “It’s not that I don’t want to help, Brother Kylin, but this illness is something I’ve seen thousands of years ago. It’s a mental disorder that relapses every year. There’s really nothing I can do. If you really want to help him, go back and just be with him.”

So, this is a kylin.

Who’s this boss and brother of his then? Who’s the incurable beast?

“It’s different this time. He’s severely injured. Didn’t you tell me that you have a love-forgetting potion? State a price and save his life,” the kylin roared.

“Brother Kylin, this potion works on everyone but not on such a severe case. Plus, I don’t have it anymore,” Baize said.

“You’re lying to me! What do you mean you don’t have it anymore?” he bellowed. “Don’t you think I can beat you three up? I’m going to do whatever it takes to bring at least one of you over with me!”

Baize placated, “Alright, alright. I don’t have the potion anymore, that’s the truth, but I’ll go with you.”

The kylin immediately started to shrink in size and eventually transformed into a middle-aged man.

“You’re coming with me?” he asked.

“But I’ll bring someone along and I will need Pu Lao’s approval.”

Baize whispered something to Pu Lao and the latter nodded.

“I’ll go call him now,” Baize informed him.

The kylin yelled, “Hurry!”

...

From our perch mid-air, I patted Xiaoai’s shoulder. “Let’s go back. I think he’s bringing me.”

“You?” Xiaoai asked doubtfully but she brought me back to the room nonetheless.

I quickly picked up a book and pretended to study, my brain swimming with questions. What kind of animal is the kylin? Why did it appear here and who is he seeking help for?

The door opened slowly and Baize instructed somewhat sorrily, “Pack your stuff. We’re going out.”

I asked suspiciously, “Where?”

“Northen part.”

“Okay.”

“Aren’t you going to bring anything?” he asked.

“I came here with nothing,” I answered frustratedly.

Baize nodded. “Bring him up, Xiaoai. I’ll get the medicine box. We’ll leave soon, look after him.”

Xiaoai nodded before pulling me up.

The door opened and I entered the room.

Kylin spoke up,”Who is this?”

“Goudan. Old Tao’s disciple,” Pu Lao replied.

“We’re bringing him?” Kylin asked, puzzled.

Pu Lao nodded.

Kylin walked over to me and Xiaoai retreated a few steps.

“Are you his nephew? You smell like a dragon. Whose kid are you?”

Before I could think of what to tell him, Pu Lao called me over.

When I got to him, he whispered, “I’ll need you to follow Baize carefully and listen to his instructions. This trip points to disaster, so prepare yourself.”

“Pre...prepare myself...” I mumbled helplessly.

“I don’t know how you broke my spell, but at least I can save some time undoing it now. But when you get there, no more tricks, okay? Listen to what Baize tells you or you might not be able to return,” Pu Lao warned.

“Why are we going there?”

“The less you know the better.”

Baize came in with the medicine box.

“Go.” Pu Lao waved me away.

Kylin went down on all fours and transformed into an enormous lion once again.

Baize situated himself on his back. “Xiaoai, bring him into the box and I’ll tell you when we reach our destination.”

“Wait, what’s all these? Where are we going?” I repeated.

Baize shook his head. “I told you, we’re going to the north.”

“Why so far? And how?” I questioned.

Kylin roared, “I move fast. Stop wasting my boss’ time, he’s waiting to be treated.”

Without another word, Baize opened his medicine box and Xiaoai pulled me in.

It was all darkness before I landed.

We appeared at Black Mountain once again.

...

“Sit tight!” Kylin yelled.

Baize stuck his body close to Kylin’s body.

In a few steps, Kylin leaped out of the building and landed on the rooves of private houses.

Kylin was already out of the city even before a hundred steps.

He moved so fast, it was like there weren’t any obstructions in his path.

...

Inside the medicine box, Black Mountain.

We could feel the slight shaking of the ground.

She shut her eyes and started, “My dad’s on his back and we’re out of the zoo. With this speed, we can really reach north in half a day.”

“What are we going to do then?” I asked.

“We wait. I can bring you to my mother. You came for my parents yesterday, didn’t you?” she asked, dragging me up the mountain.

To my surprise, on the mountain peak stood a three-story villa.

Xiaoai opened the door and it was empty inside.

She called out for her mother but there was no answer. Xiaoai said to me, “She might’ve gone down to get groceries.”

“Groceries?” I echoed.

“Yes, those below are rich. They’re also supplying us with water and electricity,” she replied.

I was shocked. “There’s electricity here?”

“Yes, why? Do you think we’re living in ancient times? Ha! It’s more like the 80s over here. It’s not as underdeveloped as you think.”

“So those people discovered electricity?”

“My father taught them in secret and it will be my turn soon. Previously, he had taught them step by step, but I’ve now come up with a better idea, inspired by the hospital that we have here. We simply supplied them with some hospital and medicine-related novels and some people mastered the contents in less than half a month,” Xiaoai related.

“So you think that if you throw some books about gliders, they will start flying?” I asked.

“No,” she said exasperatedly. “They have no idea that they’re living inside a medicine box. Only Dad and I can fly, which is why we’re the only ones who can leave.”

The door suddenly opened and a woman entered. “Who’s home?”

Xiaoai smiled and called out, “I’m back, Mom. I’m with a friend of Dad. He’s here for lunch.”

The lady smiled kindly. “You should’ve told me. I have no makeup on.”

I looked at her and involuntarily shuddered.

She was a middle-aged woman, no different from the aunties you’d see bargaining in the wet market.

“This... is your mom? Xiaoqian?” I stammered.

Xiaoai slapped my head with Waking the Dragon. “Don’t be rude. Call her aunty.”

I covered my head with a bitter smile. “Hi, Aunty, nice to meet you.”

Xiaoqian smiled. With a small wave of her hand, she instantly looked younger. She was almost resembled Xiaoai, except that she exuded a more mature charm. She no longer was that tired looking aunty.

“Baize’s friend? Make yourself at home while I prepare the food. It’ll be quick,” she said.

“That aunty is your mom? How?” I turned to Xiaoai.

She shook her head and gave me another ruler slap on my head. “Don’t be silly. Won’t she gather suspicions if she doesn’t disguise herself in the market?”

I sighed before plopping down onto the sofa.

A short moment later, a scrumptious lunch was laid out on the table.

Xiaoqian asked, “Where’s your father? Is he not planning to come back again?”

Xiaoai replied, “No, he’s out to treat illnesses, which is why he had Brother Goudan come over to save on a ticket.”

She gave me a kick under the table. I hastily added, “Yeah, yeah. Emergency trip. It’s a little far.”

Xiaoqian nodded, satisfied with our explanation. “It’s good to be thrifty. Quick, let’s eat. Xiaogou, right? Come, eat more.”